Springboro company to lay off 74 employees

Robert Bosch Battery Systems will lay off 74 workers from its plant in Springboro beginning Jan. 29, according to a 60-day notice sent Wednesday to Warren County officials.

The layoff would leave 56 workers in the plant, Springboro Mayor John Agenbroad said.

“They are telling us it is temporary. We’re hoping that’s what it’s going to be,” Agenbroad said.

Company and union officials could not be reached.

The layoffs affect members of IUE-CWA Local 755. The company told Warren County the following employees would be let go: 25 operators and a leader in the pack assembly section, 23 operators and two leaders in cell coating assembly, 16 operators and two leaders in module assembly, two operators and one leader on the dock and one compliance operator.

The automotive battery plant is at 50 Ovonic Way, a cul-de-sac off North Pioneer Boulevard in Springboro.

Originally known as GM Ovonic, Bosch acquired the former Cobasys plant from SB LiMotive, a joint venture of Bosch and Samsung, in October 2012.

In 2006, the State Controlling Board approved a $750,000 grant for the company, then known as Cobasys, to help buy machinery and equipment for an expanded building to produce batteries for hybrid vehicles.

Cobasys said it would invest $137 million in machinery and equipment and expected to create 150 jobs within three years.

Also in December 2006, then-Gov. Bob Taft announced the Ohio Development Financing Advisory Council was loaning the company $5 million at an interest rate of 4 percent over seven years to help it acquire machinery and equipment.